Improvement in elastic horseshoes



V. M. BRAF'FETT & S. R. PERKINS.

ELASTIC HORSESHOE. N0-18,53Z. Patented Augfl. 1876.

ILPETiHS PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGYON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

VOLNEY M. BRAFFETT AND SAMUEL PERKINS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, IND., ASSIGNORSTO THEMSELVES AND ROBERT M. MAGHETT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELASTIC HORSESHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,532, dated August1, 1876 application filed June 26, 1876. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VoLNEY M, BRAFFETT and SAMUEL It. PERKINS, ofIndianapolis,

- county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Elastic Horseshoes, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of our invention is to construct a shoe so as to relieve. thehoof from jar at the rear quarters thereof; and our invention consistsof. a cast malleable shoe, the vertical thickness of which increasesslightly from the toe to a point about midway to the heels, and fromthere to decrease in thickness to the extreme end of the heels. Theheels are cast with hollows on the upper side, and provided with pins,in such a manner as to hold secure rubber cushions that intervenebetween the heels of the shoe and rear quarters of the hoof, thusrelieving the hoof from all jar, and making an elastic shoe.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the shoe embodying our improvement,and shows one rubber cushion in its socket, and the other socket withoutits cushion. Fig. 2 represents a side view ofone of the rubber cushions.Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of our improved elastic shoe asattached to a hoot.

A represents the shoe, made of cast-steel or malleable iron of thegeneral shape, as shown in .Fig. 1. The body of the shoe has a gradualincreased thickness vertically from the toe to midway of its length, asat F F, and from F F its thickness gradually diminishes to the extremeend of the heels. The heels of the shoe are formed with sockets orrecesses B,

with the rim or flange D all around, as shown in Fig. 1. In the socketsB there may be secured, if required, studs or pins 0 O (J, as shown. Therubber cushions E are made thicker at the rear end than at the front,and are provided with holes 0 G O in the manner shown. These cushions Efit into the socket B, and the pins or studs 0 O 0 enter the holes 0 G Gof the cushion and holdit secure, as shown at E in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3;and when our improved shoe is attached to the hoof G, it appears asshown in Fig. 8.

It will be seen that while the hoof G has a firm positive bearing uponthe inclined front portion of the shoe, as is allowable when but littleforce is applied, the elastic pads at the rear are interposed where theforce is greatest under heavy strains, thus effecting as good or abetter purpose than when a rubber pad covers the whole extent of theshoe, and at a less expense.

We claim- A horseshoe inclined on its inner face downward in bothdirections from the center, and provided with elastic pads E. arrangedat each side near the heel, so as to permit the hoof to bear directly onthe shoe at the front and on the pads at the rear, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

VOLNEY M. BRAFFETT. SAMUEL R. PERKINS, Witnesses:

E. O. FRINK, I. F. RANDOLPH.

